Bookworms usually snuggle into the fiction library, two to a comfy chair, circled around cake and juice, clutching their recently-read book (chosen by the boys), funded by OE Lee Child (the books, the cake and the juice), and chat, enthuse, rate, discuss, disagree and devour (the book, the cake and the juice).
Lockdown has moved us online. There’s no cake to share, but plenty of ideas, socialising, gesticulating, enthusiasm and wild opinions in our Zoom discussions.
Now, instead of little slips of paper slipped into a plastic bag to select the next book, we have a colourful Google form instead.
This half term’s texts, Z for Zachariah (Shells and Rems) and Good Omens (UMs), were both chosen before the coronavirus crisis, yet were eerily appropriate and chilling to read in lockdown. One describes a post-apocalyptic world with only two known human survivors, and the other humorously depicts the anticipation of the end of the world.
The boys sum up the online club:
“It’s really great Bookworms can continue even in lockdown – with little difference. We read books, and discuss them together. We can still find great new books online, meaning we will never become bored. I miss the cake, though.” Sarem Shabir (Shell G)
“Bookworms is great because it enables us to read privately, yet also to discuss our thoughts and compare each other’s opinions. We can challenge what others think, and recommend books we want to read.” Aaryan Manarkattu (Rem T)
“Bookworms was great fun; whoever recommended the book was a genius.” James Gooding (UMB)
“Bookworms is a fun club to join, and has made me read lots of books which I previously would never have thought to read. It is great it’s continuing through lockdown.” Bilal Chaudhry (Rem T)
